Facebook offers local businesses many different tools and features that can help them effectively market their businesses. The good thing about these features is that they are currently free, which means it is the best time to take advantage of them in your social networking.
One of the most useful tools available to help businesses build a loyal following is the Facebook “group” feature. Facebook groups are not entirely different from Facebook pages; the only difference is that the group revolves around a particular group of people rather than a brand.
Below are simple steps you can take to create a Facebook group:
1. Sign in to your account and click on the link labeled “Groups” on the left side of the home page.
2. The top bar menu will appear and you should click on “create a new group.”
3. A form will open with fields that you will need to fill. Some of them are mandatory while some are optional. Some of the fields you will need to fill include but not limited to group name, description, is your group public or private, picture upload and many others. To create a group that will not leave any questions, it is important that you fill all the provided fields.
4. After you have successfully created the group, you can now take your time to invite people to the group. You can promote the group through other social networks outside of Facebook, such as inside your business establishment, blogs and other effective social media sites.
It is important to start by inviting people who know you as this will prevent any spamming reports or blocking. Another important thing is to keep your group as active as possible. Active groups are more popular and are more likely to give you results.
Do not overlook the power of Facebook groups in your social networking strategies, as they have proven to be very effective in generating more exposure for small businesses.
Showing posts with label facebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label facebook. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Monday, 2 July 2012
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Effective Local Business Marketing
Does your business survive on local shoppers? Even though you may draw customers from a limited area, you are not necessarily limited in the ways that you can advertise. Many business owners do not specialize in marketing, and after placing a few ads, getting a company listing in the city yellow page book and networking with people they know, they run out of advertising ideas.
Marketing does take time and money, however using creative strategies that people like will bring attention to your business and is more likely to bring in new customers. Here are three low-cost marketing strategies that you can use.
1. How to Get Free Publicity
Start by announcing your business to your community. Are you holding a grand opening event or open house? Writing a short press release to your local newspaper can result in a story written about your company. There are resources online that help you write a press release, and you can even find free templates. If you do not feel comfortable writing your own release, you can always hire a public relations firm to do the job for you.
One news story can go a long way in bringing you business, but you do not need to stop at one. Any time you have news about your business that would interest the community, you can submit another press release. The same release can be sent to radio and TV stations as well.
2. Get Customers to Love You with Coupons
People love to save money. A coupon ad will tend to bring you more customers than a regular advertisement alone, and you do not have to worry about devising a complicated sales pitch.
You can send out coupons in through social networking sites, or run them in local newspapers if you have money to burn!
3. Get Local Online
The yellow pages used to be a powerful advertising tool, but more and more people are using the internet. Local online directories and social networking sites are quickly becoming a popular resource that customers use to find local businesses. You do not have to pay a lot of money to get listed in these directories, and it is an easy way to get more exposure for your company.
Websites like Facebook and Google Local, are high traffic online locations that can help you promote your business with a little effort. An important part of local business marketing is to advertise your company in multiple locations so you can gain the most exposure. If you are limited in the amount of time you can spend marketing, then hire a professional who is dedicated to finding customers on your behalf. Over time, the quality of your service can bring you repeat business and referrals also, so remember to treat your customers well.
Marketing does take time and money, however using creative strategies that people like will bring attention to your business and is more likely to bring in new customers. Here are three low-cost marketing strategies that you can use.
1. How to Get Free Publicity
Start by announcing your business to your community. Are you holding a grand opening event or open house? Writing a short press release to your local newspaper can result in a story written about your company. There are resources online that help you write a press release, and you can even find free templates. If you do not feel comfortable writing your own release, you can always hire a public relations firm to do the job for you.
One news story can go a long way in bringing you business, but you do not need to stop at one. Any time you have news about your business that would interest the community, you can submit another press release. The same release can be sent to radio and TV stations as well.
2. Get Customers to Love You with Coupons
People love to save money. A coupon ad will tend to bring you more customers than a regular advertisement alone, and you do not have to worry about devising a complicated sales pitch.
You can send out coupons in through social networking sites, or run them in local newspapers if you have money to burn!
3. Get Local Online
The yellow pages used to be a powerful advertising tool, but more and more people are using the internet. Local online directories and social networking sites are quickly becoming a popular resource that customers use to find local businesses. You do not have to pay a lot of money to get listed in these directories, and it is an easy way to get more exposure for your company.
Websites like Facebook and Google Local, are high traffic online locations that can help you promote your business with a little effort. An important part of local business marketing is to advertise your company in multiple locations so you can gain the most exposure. If you are limited in the amount of time you can spend marketing, then hire a professional who is dedicated to finding customers on your behalf. Over time, the quality of your service can bring you repeat business and referrals also, so remember to treat your customers well.
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
How Your Facebook Timeline Cover Can Give You The Advantage In Your Social Networking
One of the most interesting things about the new Facebook timeline designs is the large picture area at the top of the screen. This is known as the cover, as it acts as a cover page for the story of your life.
When choosing a timeline cover, you want to pick something that reflects you, whether it's a graphic of yourself, your family, or a graphic that showcases a hobby or interest of yours.
What is the Facebook Timeline Cover?
The timeline cover is an 850px by 315px graphic at the top of your timeline (formerly known as your profile). The concept behind the timeline is it gives a more structured view of your life as presented on Facebook. Every time you've added a friend, changed your relationship status or edited your profile text will be placed on the timeline.
The cover acts as the front page to this story of your life. This is what gives you an advantage in social networking and is so important: think of it as your social media first impression. This cover is especially important so everyone can get a good idea of who you are in a glance.
The cover also addresses an issue that many people who crossed over from Myspace to Facebook criticized: lack of customization . Myspace let users to create fully personalized websites, whereas Facebook only let you upload images , not edit the appearance of the profile. The Facebook cover adds a new level of customization to your page.
What should I use for my cover?
• Use a picture of that's already in your albums. If you do this, you'll want to use a big, high quality picture -- no tiny cell phone images ! This is the first thing people will see when they visit your page, and a grainy distorted graphic won't make a great impression.
• Design your own cover. If you have some graphic design chops, you can make your own cover in whatever graphic processing program you have. Use images , drawings and text to create your own work of art at the top of your timeline.
How to change your cover
1. Look at your Facebook timeline by clicking your name at the top of the Facebook page.
2. Click the "Change Cover" link. This gives you a drop-down menu.
3. If you'd like to use your own picture that's already on Facebook, click "Choose from my images ." This will present you with all your Facebook images.
4. Click "Upload a Photo" to choose an graphic on your computer to use as a cover.
5. Once you've picked your cover image , drag the cover around to reposition it if you need to adjust the position of the graphic.
6. Click the "Done".
When choosing a timeline cover, you want to pick something that reflects you, whether it's a graphic of yourself, your family, or a graphic that showcases a hobby or interest of yours.
What is the Facebook Timeline Cover?
The timeline cover is an 850px by 315px graphic at the top of your timeline (formerly known as your profile). The concept behind the timeline is it gives a more structured view of your life as presented on Facebook. Every time you've added a friend, changed your relationship status or edited your profile text will be placed on the timeline.
The cover acts as the front page to this story of your life. This is what gives you an advantage in social networking and is so important: think of it as your social media first impression. This cover is especially important so everyone can get a good idea of who you are in a glance.
The cover also addresses an issue that many people who crossed over from Myspace to Facebook criticized: lack of customization . Myspace let users to create fully personalized websites, whereas Facebook only let you upload images , not edit the appearance of the profile. The Facebook cover adds a new level of customization to your page.
What should I use for my cover?
• Use a picture of that's already in your albums. If you do this, you'll want to use a big, high quality picture -- no tiny cell phone images ! This is the first thing people will see when they visit your page, and a grainy distorted graphic won't make a great impression.
• Design your own cover. If you have some graphic design chops, you can make your own cover in whatever graphic processing program you have. Use images , drawings and text to create your own work of art at the top of your timeline.
How to change your cover
1. Look at your Facebook timeline by clicking your name at the top of the Facebook page.
2. Click the "Change Cover" link. This gives you a drop-down menu.
3. If you'd like to use your own picture that's already on Facebook, click "Choose from my images ." This will present you with all your Facebook images.
4. Click "Upload a Photo" to choose an graphic on your computer to use as a cover.
5. Once you've picked your cover image , drag the cover around to reposition it if you need to adjust the position of the graphic.
6. Click the "Done".
Friday, 16 March 2012
Social Media Marketing in 2012
Social media marketing is such a broad term that many people who are looking to boost the image of their company ask "What is social media marketing?
Social media marketing defined as the process of gaining website traffic or attention through social media sites such as facebook, Twitter, youtube, etc.
Doing business today is very different & challenging from the days of old, What worked earlier that doesn't necessarily ensure success today, nor can you get by just with extensive knowledge in one particular arena. Today is about keeping your eyes and ears open and bringing value to others in new ways.
Today is about re-inventing and expanding and building relationships across a wide open sea of Social Media. It requires a passion for learning new technologies, a willingness to immerse yourself in uncharted waters and a genuine capacity for generosity.
People are engaging in conversations. Conversation is the new marketing. Tapping into these conversations shows where your audience is spending time online, and what subjects and issues are of interest to them. To reach your consumers successfully, you need to move your marketing activity from the traditional "push" method, where you broadcast your messages to thousands via the media, to a "pull" strategy, where you make it easy for people to find your information, whenever and wherever they want it.
"If searching for the news was the most important development of the last decade, sharing the news may be among the most important developments of the next."
Therefore it is very important to have a presence on social networking sites. Social networks not only give the marketer a place to express themselves but it also provides with a unique platform to interact with their customers and help them serve better. And ultimately fulfilling the sole cause of the business i.e. Customer Satisfaction.
This can also be a great starting point for the marketing to go viral and pick up a grassroots effort.
Marketing of social media through various social media platform
Twitter
Twitter allows companies to promote products on an individual level. The use of a product can be explained in short messages that followers are more likely to read. These messages appear on followers home page. Messages can link to the product's website, Facebook profile, photos, videos, etc. This link provides followers the opportunity to spend more time interacting with the product online. This interaction can create a loyal connection between product and individual and can also lead to larger advertising opportunities. Twitter promotes a product in real-time and brings customers in.
Facebook
Facebook profiles are more detailed than Twitter. They allow a product to provide videos, photos, and longer descriptions. Videos can show when a product can be used as well as how to use it. These also can include testimonials as other followers can comment on the product pages for others to see. Facebook can link back to the product's Twitter page as well as send out event reminders. Facebook promotes a product in real-time and brings customers in.
As marketers see more value in social media marketing, advertisers continue to increase sequential ad spend in social by 25%. Strategies to extend the reach with Sponsored Stories and acquire new fans with Facebook ads continue to an uptick in spend across the site. The study attributes 84% of "engagement" or clicks to Likes that link back to Facebook advertising. Today, brands increase fan counts on average of 9% monthly, increasing their fan base by two-times the amount annually.
These platforms are not only used for marketing social media but also help in social media monitoring.
for more information visit our website-: http://www.socialmedia18.com
About the Author
Social Media 18 is a Social Media & Search Marketing agency, we are group of young, talented & passionate people and we love "Socializing", we help brands in developing better strategy for Social Media & Search Marketing.
We strongly believe that from earlier days of one way communication, now it's time to understand that relationships are more powerful than marketing. If marketers look at Social Media as another channel for advertisement, it won't help. Social Media is not about one more bill board it's about conversation & engagement with your consumers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)